Edge trimmer



n10 Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I H. 0. RICE. EDGE. TRIMMER.

No 508,183. PatentedNov. 7, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. 0. RICE.

v EDGE TRIMMER. No. 508,183. Patented Nov. 7, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. RICE, OF FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

EDGE-TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,183, dated November 7, 1893.

Application filed January 28, 1893; serial No. 459,961. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY 0. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Edge-Trimmers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in edge trimmers, and the main object of my invention is to adapt the implement to a greater variety of uses, while at the same time it may be produced at a small cost.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a front elevation of my trimmer. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on the line :20 a: of Fig. 1, the set screw and handle being shown in eleva tion. Fig. 3 is a like view with the parts in a difierent position. Fig. 4. is a transverse section of the socket member on the longitudinal line of the set screw as far as the pivotal pin and then on a line at right angles to the face of the blade, some of the parts being shown in elevation. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of a modification, said views corresponding with Figs.2 and 3, and Fig. 7 is a detached plan view of the socket part in its modified form.

A designates a steel blade, the cutting edge of which is of an ordinary form for edge trimmers. Instead of connecting this blade rigidly to a handle or handle socket, I connect it'therewith by means of an adjustable joint.

5 designates a plate to which the blade is rigidly secured, said plate having integral rearwardly projecting pivotal lugs 6 which are connected by a bridge piece 7 at their upper sides. ually rounds upward in front of the lugs 6 and slopes from its middle portion rearwardly on each side so as to substantially cover the pivotal lugs. As illustrated, the plate 5, pivotal lugs 6, bridge piece 7, and guard 8 are formed integral of one piece of cast metal which is the preferred construction. I also provide the rear lower corner of the pivotal lugs 6 with a projecting shoulder or stop 9 as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

B designates the handle socket for receiving the handle C. At its lower end it is provided with the pivotal lugs 10 which are a suitable distance apart to receive the pivotal lugs 6 of the plate5. The upper side of the to form a'hinge or joint.

I also provide a guard 8 which gradsocket is provided with a set-screw 11. A pivotal bolt or pin 12 passes through all the pivotal lugs and secures them together so as The shoulder or stop 9 is so related to the heel of the socket as to engage therewith when the blade is turned in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the bridge piece and set-screw are also so related that the end of the screw comes upon the side or face of the bridge piece that is nearest to said shoulder or stop. By turning the set-screw so as to impinge its end upon the bridge piece as shown in Fig. 2 the blade is rigidly locked in place and stands substantially parallel with the handle the same as if it were made solid, and when in this position it may be used for cutting turf into strips or for trimming the borders of walks or other uses which require the blade to be held with its edge in a vertical direction.

It is sometimes desirable to use the blade with its cutting edge in or nearly in a horizontal position as in cutting turf from the ground, or in cutting the slanting side of a or near the surface. For such uses the setscrew 11 is loosened, and the blade turned on its hinge or pivot into the position shown in Fig. 3, when the set-screw is turned down so as to engage the opposite side of thebridge piece 7 while the forward end of the socket B rests against the rear edgeof the lugs 6 at their upper parts to act as a stop, so that the blade is rigidly held at an angle to its handle instead of parallel thereto. In this position it can be used to out the surface of the walk, for cutting weeds or cleaning the path up to its border, or for cutting turf from the ground. The guard 8 protects the joint and turns the material away from the set-screw. In cutting turf it is ordinarily rolled into rolls as fast as cut so that the guard or set-screw will not be in the way even when used for severing long strips of turf from the ground.

The modification shown on Sheet 2 is subpath up to the border, or in cutting weeds at stantially the same as the implement before ICO I am aware that prior patents show and describehoes andforks that are pivot-ed to their handles so as to be adjusted at different angles thereto and provided with fastening devices to secure the parts in their adjusted positions and I hereby disclaim the same.

By my improvementthe construction is simple and efficient, for when the blade is in either position it is firmly held from moving in one direction by the stops and in the other direction by the bridge and fastening device bearing thereon.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the blade A, plate 5 having rearwardly projecting pivotal lugs 6 6,

the;bridge piece 7 connecting said lugs attheir upper sides, and the projecting stops 9 9, at the rear lower corners of said lugs 6,.the handle socket B provided with pivotal lugs 10 pivotedto the lugs 6 of the blade, and the setscrew 11 in said socket, the upper rear edges of thelugs 6 and said stops 9 being fitted for engagement respectively with the forwardupper end and heel of said socket, substantially .as described and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the blade A, handle socket B pivoted together as described and provided with fastening devices for locking the blade at an angle to the length of the handle socket or parallel thereto, and the guard 8 of the blade immediately in front of said pivot and extending above the same, substantially as described and for the purpose speci- HENRY 6. RICE.

Witnesses:

JAMES SHEPARD, EDWARD W. BUSH. 

